A summary of research into smoke detection in buildings with high spaces has been published by the Fire Industry Association.

Fact File 45: Smoke Detection in High Spaces using ASD follows recent research carried out by BRE Global to review the recommendations for using optical beam smoke detection and aspirating smoke detection in high ceiling spaces.

Reliable detection of smoke in high spaces has been considered to be a challenge for many years, explains the FIA. Many design and installation codes (including BS 5839-1) define limits on the ceiling height that may be protected by a particular technology.

The research was undertaken in three phases, starting with a review of the data, codes and experimental results available. The project then considered the prospect and viability of using computational fluid dynamics and fire models to predict the response of detectors in such spaces.

The programme culminated in full scale fire tests in a 43m high warehouse which, says the FIA, provided demonstrable evidence that smoke formed from relatively small fires can rise to high ceiling levels in sufficient quantities to trigger both aspirating and optical beam systems.